The Seven Most Distinctive Spoken English Language Varieties

Which English is Best?

With English continuing to develop as a principal world language, a question which often arises among EFL learners is, “Which English is best?” It can be confusing to new learners of all ages as to which one of the “Englishes” should be learned or studied. While the answer to this may depend on your needs and location, one consideration is the many varieties of English that exist and are spoken world wide.

Here are Seven Distinctive Varieties of English:

• American English
This category of English actually consists of several variations. There are recognizable variations in the spoken English of the South, the Pennsylvania Dutch, the New England region of the U.S., the Midwestern U.S. and the West coast. There is also “Black English” spoken as a distinct racial community variety of English across the USA.

• Black English (Ebonics)
You won’t have to go very far to hear this distinctive variety of English. Try the latest Rap or Hip Hop offerings or listen to interviews with black artists for the unique flair this English variety has. Grammar, lexis, idioms, expressions and vocabulary are all impacted by this and other varieties of English.

• British English
The origin of English proper, there are “common” variations of English spoken throughout the UK. The “Upper Crust” as it were, used a particular variety of spoken English known as RP or “Received Pronunciation”. RP is what the royal family and those educated at Oxford, Cambridge and other high-level universities were taught to use and speak.

• Australian English
No question here, Steve Irwin popularized Australia’s unique wildlife in a way like no other before his untimely, accidental death in 2006. Another character who brought Australian English to the forefront of public knowledge was Paul “Crocodile Dundee” Hogan in a movie and sequel bearing the same name.


• Jamaican English
Spoken English in Jamaica has always been an interesting variety for the many travelers, vacationers and visitors to this island. It’s also used in movies, documentaries and films set in Jamaica. Singer Bob Marley also contributed not only his music, but interest in the culture and spoken English variety of Jamaica as have a number of other Reggae music artists.

• English Spoken in India
A distinctive variety of spoken English is used in India. The language is taught and applied there as a sort of “lingua franca”, since there are hundreds of regionally and locally spoken languages and dialects across the Indian continent. Hundreds of movies, documentaries and other media are readily available in this variety of English.

• Varieties of Pidgins and Patois Spoken in a Number of Locations
There are unique, local or regional varieties of English spoken in a number of countries world wide. Places like Belize, the Philippines, several West Indies (Caribbean) islands like Barbados, Trinidad, the Cayman Islands and both the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Guyana (formerly British) in South America and African countries where English is widely spoken, each have their own particular brand of spoken English.

English Language Needs and Location
The question, “which English is best?” usually depends on the needs and location of the EFL learner, especially when one considers the many varieties of English that exist and that are spoken world wide.


Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an EFL Teacher Trainer, Intellectual Development Specialist, author and speaker. He has written ESP, foreign language learning, English language teaching texts and hundreds of articles used in more than 120 countries. Get your FREE E-book,"If you Want to Teach English Abroad, Here's What You Need to Know" by requesting the title at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com Need a blogger or copywriter to promote your school, institution, service or business or an experienced writer and vibrant SEO content for your website, blog or newsletter? Then E-mail me for further information.

English in Jamaica: Is That REALLY English?

Walk With Me
Along the white coral beach, palms sway in rhythm to tropical sea breezes while dust devils dance along stretches of vacant sand.

Can you hear it? Reggae beats drift through the air amid smells of spicy jerked pork barbequing over the red glow of charcoal grills.

Linger a bit longer and you just might catch a whiff of pungent “ganja” being smoked some where not too far away. There might be some Rastafarians nearby, you say to yourself.

Welcome to Jamaica.

English is the first language here, but without some specialized practice, fine-tuned ears and a healthy dose of linguistic patience, you very likely may not understand much of the local English “patois”.

“Is that REALLY English?” you might ask yourself. Yes, my dear, it is. And a proud variety of English it is too. Indeed, to talk Jamaican is a unique experience.

One of the inherent tasks of teaching EFL or of communicating world wide in English as a lingua franca, is to fathom the language in a variety of dialects, patois, pidgins and their accompanying accents. Try listening to this Reggae / Hip Hop patois English song video (linked here and posted below) by Sean Paul as one example.

Talking Jamaican
Would like to try your hand at “talking Jamaican”? Then try wrapping your tongue around these examples:

"A fe me cyar."
Translation: "It's my car."

"Mi a go lef tiday."
Translation: "I am leaving today."

"Sell mi wan bokkle a iyl."
Translation: "Sell me a bottle of oil."

"Dat a mi bredda."
Translation: "That is my brother."

"Coodeh, yuh see de big bud eena de tree?"
Translation: "Look at the big bird in the tree."

"Bwaay! Mi did tink de test wudda eazy."
Translation: "Boy! I though that test would have been easy.

"Mi like yuh cris cyar."
Translation :"I like your new car."

"Yuh did see dat?" "A who dat?"
Translation: "Did you see that?" "Who is that?"

"She a mi bess bess fren."
Translation: "She is my best friend."

"Oonu can cum wid mi."
Translation: "You all can come with me."

Listen to Jamaican Speech
To hear the speech and sounds for yourself and for some additional examples, visit the sites at: http://www.jamaicans.com/speakja/talk.htm

http://www.everytingjamaican.com/jamaicatalk/speak-jamaican/166-how-2-speak-jamaican-patois.html,

http://www.ehow.com/how_2088847_speak-jamaican-patois.html or

Speak Jamaican at: http://www.speakjamaican.com/


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Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an EFL Teacher Trainer, Intellectual Development Specialist, author and speaker. He has written ESP, foreign language learning, English language teaching texts and hundreds of articles used in more than 80 countries. Get your FREE E-book, “If you Want to Teach English Abroad, Here's What You Need to Know" by requesting the title at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com Need a blogger or copywriter to promote your school, institution, service or business or an experienced writer and vibrant SEO content for your website, blog or newsletter? Then E-mail me for further information.